The world’s best budget hotels for under £100 a night
HOTEL RATES have seen a huge increase, making getaways a costly, if not impossible, option for many. But, all is not lost and there are still affordable places to stay that don’t scrimp on the aesthetics. Here are 30 of the best budget boltholes from across the world…
BALI BLISS OCULUS, BALI
IN THE north-east of the island, oculus Bali’s modernist concrete edifice is built into the hillside, with views over the glistening lake and volcanic Mount Batur. Rooms have fulllength sliding doors that open on to private balconies, while inside burnished concrete floors, wooden ceilings and freestanding stone baths blend the industrial with the natural. BOOK IT: Doubles from £99 ( oculusbali.com).
YOU CAN IN JAPAN LYF, GINZA
THIS newly opened apartment-style hotel in TOKYO’S Ginza district is a kitsch and convenient base that won’t blow the budget. Ginza city maps and graphic novel-inspired wallpaper covers ceilings and walls.
the rooms are rather small, with beds up against windows. But the communal areas are where visitors tend to congregate, with a social kitchen, co- working lounge and laundrette. It’s just minutes from three of the city’s main train stations, so it’s an ideal launch pad for the techno city.
BOOK IT: Doubles from £88 ( discoverasr. com/en).
AWESOME AUSTRALIA TERMINUS HOTEL, SYDNEY
WHILE two of the nine bedrooms have en
suites, shared bathrooms for the other rooms keep the costs down at this fresh boutique hotel in Pyrmont, near Sydney’s Darling Harbour.
Bolstered cushions and soft throws languish on beds, sash windows let in the natural light and the rooftop parapet remains as part of the building’s original pub heritage. There’s a pretty courtyard deck and bar, as well as tables outside in what was previously the pub garden. BOOK IT: Doubles from £ 92 ( terminus pyrmont.com).
USA HOLDS SWAY BORO HOTEL, NEW YORK
QUEENS, just across the east river from Manhattan, is often overlooked by visitors, meaning you may get more bang for your buck. at Hotel Boro in the Long island City neighbourhood, you get the views you’d otherwise pay through the ceiling windows for, with concrete ceilings, hardwood floors and atmospheric pendant lighting.
BOOK IT: Doubles from £ 100 ( boro hotel.com).
FREEHAND, LOS ANGELES
FREEHAND’S unconventional economic chain of part hostels, part hotels are spread across europe and North america, with the Los angeles offering situated downtown. room options range from shared dorms to private dorms for groups, to private doubles. Housed in the city’s historic 1920s Commercial exchange building, the starry rooftop is home to a pool with vibrant pink loungers and views of the surrounding skyline.
BOOK IT: Doubles from £88 (freehandhotels. com/los-angeles).
MEXICO MAGIC CASA MUUCH, ISLA HOLBOX
SEPARATED from the mainland by a lagoon, Holbox island is an idyllic beach haven. Straddling the sand on the island’s west coast, Casa Muuch’s six bedrooms all have neutral tones with a touch of bohemian living. The pool and breakfast area overlook the private beach.
BOOK IT: Doubles from £ 97 ( casa muuch.com).
SUNNY CARIBBEAN HOTEL HM BAVARO BEACH, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
THE Caribbean doesn’t always come cheap, so it’s impressive for HM Bavaro Beach in Punta Cana to do just that, while also enjoying a prime spot overlooking the beach and shaded by tall palms.
rooms are crisp with a wave of blue throughout, and there are two pools, one above the beach at the front and one kidney bean-shaped at the back.
BOOK IT: Doubles from £85 ( hmhotels.com).
WHALE-WATCHING IN COSTA RICA ALBORADA, OSA PENINSULA
IN THE thick of the Costa rican rainforest in the southern osa Peninsula, alborada’s nine igloo rooms standout — not least because of their reasonable rate. all nine minimalist rooms open out on to the pool and bar area, and have sliding doors to let in the warm jungle air.
Surrounding the hotel is the marine national park from which you can snorkel and even spot migrating whales.
BOOK IT: Doubles from £ 84 ( uvita igloos.com).
WILD SOUTH AFRICA NGAMA SAFARI LODGE, LIMPOPO
SAFARI camps and game drives across the South african bushveld don’t normally come cheap. But at Ngama Tented Safari Lodge, close to the border of Mozambique, they do.
This magical camp offers a rustic sanctuary amid the wildlife- strewn region of the Guernsey reserve.
Canvas tents sit slightly elevated above ground with a private terrace. Dinners are lantern-lit in a boma (an outdoor cooking and eating area).
BOOK IT: Doubles from £ 80 ( ngama lodge.co.za).
DISCOVER ARGENTINA HOTEL PULITZER, BUENOS AIRES
POSITIONED between the artistic San Telmo and trendy Palermo neighbourhoods, modestly priced Hotel Pulitzer’s monochrome facade stands out for all the right reasons. rooms have fourposters, and there’s an outdoor pool and a rooftop bar.
BOOK IT: Doubles from £88 ( hotelpulitzer. com.ar).
EPIC INDIA NARENDRA BHAWAN BIKANER, RAJASTHAN
THIS veritable palace pays homage to the last of its Maharajas, but doesn’t charge a king’s ransom.
from the sandstone facade to original features, the lavish and bold interiors make for majestic modesty. The rooftop pool has stirring views across the Bikaner rooftops. Beyond the hotel, rajasthan is the perfect regal stomping ground, with hilltop forts, majestic palaces and a vast national park.
BOOK IT: Doubles from £96 ( narendra bhawan.com).
CAMBODIA’S CAPITAL TRIBE, PHNOM PENH
OVERLOOKING the banks of the Mekong river, Tribe’s budget blueprint showcases how affordable can still be affable.
Design-led en suite rooms are fuss-free minimalist, with bold geometric print wallpaper and open wardrobes.
Located near the 14th- century Wat Phnom Daun Penh pagoda temple, the vibrant Post office Square and the night market, it’s a great base from which to explore the bustling city.
BOOK IT: Doubles from £74 (tribehotels. com/en).
ICELAND STEAL R13, REYKJAVIK
THIS affordable self- check-in option is decked out with dark walls and vintagelooking leather seats.
While it’s a 15-minute bus ride from the centre, there are plenty of restaurants nearby, and impressive views of snowy mountains. and you may even get the
chance to see the spectacular Northern Lights, too.
BOOK IT: Doubles from £ 84 ( r13.is).
CROATIAN CRACKER HOTEL ODISEJ, MLJET
As the only hotel on the island of Mljet, a largely forested national park, the Odisej is a snip just outside of peak season when room rates drop. situated in the northwest, it’s the ideal spot from which to explore nature. there’s a beach below the hotel, or enjoy snorkelling in the nearby saltwater lakes or hiking.
BOOK IT: Doubles from £ 54 ( adriaticluxuryhotels.com).
MOROCCO MARVEL RIAD ALTAIR, MARRAKECH
ON A quiet street on the edge of the Medina, Riad Altair offers a peaceful retreat from the sensory overload of the souks.
Inexpensive rooms offer authentic Moroccan charm, with beautiful shuttered windows on to the central courtyard. traditional features, such as decorative arches, ornate bathrooms and tiled floors provide history, while subtle North African trinkets and pictures decorate the walls. the real win is the rooftop terrace with loungers and views across the Red City. BOOK IT: Doubles from £83 ( riad altair.com).
GREAT-VALUE GREECE NOSTOS, SERIFOS
PERCHED on a hill on the island of serifos, Nostos imbues ethereal Aegean charm. Lustrous white walls, polished cement floors and neutral fabrics create a relaxed atmosphere.
BOOK IT: Doubles from £54 ( nostos boutiquehotel.com).
ASTOUNDING AUSTRIA 25HOURS HOTEL, VIENNA
THIS hotel is housed in a former 1970s office block, with lit slogans and eclectic furniture. the rooftop bar has impressive views over Museums Quartier and the city’s Baroque architecture. BOOK IT: Doubles from £ 94 ( 25hours-hotels.com/en).
SWISH SWITZERLAND YOTEL, GENEVA
WHILE the rooms are simple, the view is anything but. elsewhere, such close proximity to the lake could break the bank. the hotel is only five minutes from the water where you can swim or kayak. BOOK IT: Doubles from £81 ( yotel. com/en/hotels/yotel-geneva-lake).
GERMAN BARGAIN MICHELBERGER HOTEL, BERLIN
HOUSED in an old factory in Friedrichshein, this is a heady mix of hotel, bar, restaurant and artistic community space. unusually, private rooms are also designed for singles and groups who want to share and save pennies.
Food in the restaurant is sourced from the hotel’s farm, and bread is made in the bakery. Come evening, the bar is one of the city’s hotspots.
BOOK IT: Doubles from £84 ( michel bergerhotel.com).
NO PAIN IN SPAIN HOSTAL GRAU, BARCELONA
THIS former 19th- century guesthouse has had a beautiful refresh, with crisp white walls, wooden shutters and distressed furniture.
Just a short walk from the north end of La Rambla, hostal Grau prides itself on its sustainability credentials, from toxic- free paint to beds made of organic materials, to a room with lower electromagnetic radiation that promises optimal rest.
there’s an honesty bar, organic breakfast and soon-to-be rooftop terrace where you can enjoy views over the city.
BOOK IT: Doubles from £99 ( hostal grau.com).
CUT-PRICE PORTUGAL MAMA SHELTER, LISBON
DISPELLING the myths of bland budget chain hotels, Mama shelter’s rooms are anything but cookie- cutter, with eccentric touches like superhero bedside light covers, vibrant soft furnishings and curious artworks.
the restaurant is a wild concoction of pattern and colour, serving French food with a Portuguese twist.
On the rooftop, tipples come with views across the tagus River. It’s a short walk to the shops on Avenue di Liberdade.
BOOK IT: Doubles from £ 83 ( mamashelter.com).
AN ITALIAN ADVENTURE HOTEL GALLERIA, VENICE
HOTEL Galleria enjoys an enviable location, right on the banks of the Grand Canal in Venice, next to the Accademia bridge.
Interiors are as stately as the setting, with regal print wallpaper, ornate marble fireplaces and murals on the ceiling. In fact, you could be forgiven for thinking it’s one of the many museums. Catch a boat from the other side of the bridge to tour the waterways. BOOK IT: Doubles from £ 86 ( hotelgalleria.it).
FRUGAL FRANCE BABEL BELLEVILLE, PARIS
IN CLASSIC Parisian fashion, Babel’s rooms are small but
perfectly formed: Berber-influenced with patinated walls, antique furnishings and feature bedheads. A glass elevator makes the four floors accessible, including the massage room, restaurant and cocktail bar. Situated in the edgy Belleville neighbourhood, between the 19th and 20th Arrondissements, Babel is surrounded by a plethora of buzzing cafes, patisseries and bars, as well as local markets on nearby Belleville Boulevard.
BOOK IT: Doubles from £ 98 ( babelbelleville.
HOTEL LE SUD, ANTIBES
SANDWICHED between nice and cannes along the normally pricey French Riviera, hotel le Sud is like finding a pearl in an oyster. Decor is bright white, blended with a stylish Mediterranean seaside theme of Breton stripes, subtle artwork and lemon trees. in the pretty garden, you’ll find a small pool, patio and seasonal food truck selling freshly made pizzas and salads. it’s a 20-minute walk to the two best golden curves of sand at Sail and Ponteil.
BOOK IT: Doubles from £71 ( hotel lesud.com/en).
LURE OF THE NETHERLANDS HOTEL NOT HOTEL, AMSTERDAM
BEHIND an unassuming facade in Amsterdam-west, your euros will go far at hotel not hotel, a wildly playful art exhibition-style place. Rooms are all small but unique, ranging from a local tram cart in the lobby to secret rooms behind bookcases, and all blend into the communal areas. there’s also a choice of shared or private bathrooms. Food is served in the restaurant- cum-bar, comically named Kevin Bacon.
BOOK IT: Doubles from £68 ( hotel nothotelamsterdam.com).
CHEAP AND CHIC IN THE UK MOLLIE’S MOTEL, BRISTOL
FROM the owners of Soho house, Mollie’s is a retro Americaninspired motel diner just off the M5, a short drive from Bristol. Rooms incorporate some of the luxe elements you’ll find at the members- only sister hotels for a fraction of the price: think hypnos beds, Dyson hairdryers and cowshed products. it’s all super-modern, with check-in, food ordering and electric car charging all done via an app. BOOK IT: Doubles from £ 70 ( mollies.com).
GREEN ROOMS, LONDON
WHAT this frugal find in wood Green, north London, lacks in buzzy neighbourhood, it makes up for in its own community.
housed in a 1930s Art Deco electrical showroom, Green Rooms is now an artist enclavecum-gallery, with a bar, studios, co-working space and chefs-inresidence restaurant. Rooms are minimal to sparse, but what more do you need with London on your doorstep? Some have an en suite bathroom, while others are shared to keep costs even lower.
BOOK IT: Doubles from £95 ( green rooms.london).
BIKE AND BOOT, PEAK DISTRICT
the newest of the affordable Bike and Boot chain, this one in the heart of the Peak District is not your usual hiker’s habitat: there’s not a whiff of a creaky inn in sight. instead, it’s a vibrant newbuild near hope Valley, with rooms that have old railway adverts as blinds, poster art on walls and bursts of bold red furnishings. there are some freebies, too, with free dog grooming services, and a hot brew and cake after a heady hike.
BOOK IT: Doubles from £89 ( bike andboot.com).
LLANERCH VINEYARD, WALES
LLANERCH is a glorious vineyard on a former dairy farm in the Vale of Glamorgan, with 38 rooms, many of which have balconies overlooking the lineal vines.
while decor is homely, with woollen throws and scenic artwork, it’s surrounded by the sort of countryside you’d throw your money at if you had to (which you don’t): rolling hills, clifftop walks and nearby beaches, like Ogmore. there are also vineyard tours and tastings.
BOOK IT: Doubles from £ 90 ( llanerch.co.uk).
THE ADDRESS GLASGOW, SCOTLAND
with all the trappings of a luxury boutique hotel, the newly opened the Address, a six-storey property in Glasgow’s city centre, is a steal. Rooms are modern and neutral with geometric patterned curtains that give a little pop.
Downstairs, there’s a wellness spa with a himalayan salt sauna, plunge pool and gym. the restaurant serves pub grub that incorporates Scottish produce. For those wanting to be creative, local artists offer classes.
BOOK IT: Doubles from £ 98 ( theaddressglasgow.com).